--- title: "Changing flooring in a Western Australian strata home" description: "Plan a WA strata flooring change with your registered by-laws, lot boundaries, acoustic evidence and written approval requirements in view." canonical: "https://monkeyfloors.com/strata-flooring-rules/wa" language: "en-AU" published: "2026-09-27" updated: "2026-09-27" --- [Part of: Strata flooring rules: a clear route to a considered floor](https://monkeyfloors.com/strata-flooring-rules) # Changing flooring in a Western Australian strata home Quick answer For a Western Australian strata flooring change, start with the registered scheme documents and current by-laws. Establish which parts of the proposed work affect your lot or common property, then confirm the approval and acoustic evidence required. Do not assume that a product rating or another building’s permission applies to your home. By [Monkey Floors editorial team](https://monkeyfloors.com/about) · Published 27 September 2026 · 3 min read A Perth apartment and a small coastal strata scheme may both have flooring rules, but their documents and proposed work can be quite different. Start with your own scheme rather than a retailer’s standard approval pack. This guide follows Landgate’s published guidance for WA strata schemes. It helps you assemble the right questions and documents; disputed boundaries, approval powers or obligations may need advice on the actual scheme. ## Which documents should you obtain first? Ask for the registered strata plan, current scheme by-laws and any renovation policy relevant to flooring. Keep the written approval process with those documents. If an older sales pack contains different rules, establish which version now applies. Use [Landgate’s owner resources](https://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/strata-and-community-titles/strata-titles/learn-about-strata/resources-for-strata-owners/) for background and your registered documents for the scheme itself. Landgate explains that default by-laws can depend on when a scheme was registered and that schemes can have their own registered by-laws. Copying a rule from an unrelated development is unreliable. Give the manager a short description of the work: rooms affected, existing finish, proposed system, removal and preparation, and any alterations to skirting or thresholds. A clear scope makes the approval question easier to answer. ## Does the work affect the lot or common property? Do not decide ownership from what you can see inside the apartment. The strata plan and applicable legislation determine boundaries. Ask how the proposed preparation, substrate work and junction details relate to those boundaries. The [WA Strata Living Guide](https://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/siteassets/documents/strata-and-community-titles/strata-titles/strata-information-guides/wa-strata-living-guide_november_2023.pdf) explains why alterations and common-property work need careful consideration. A finish replacement and a structural alteration are not interchangeable descriptions. Ask the strata company to identify the decision needed for your scope, and seek advice if that is disputed. Put any conditions in writing before removal starts. Clarify responsibility for damage, access, protection of shared areas and reinstatement where relevant to the works. ## What acoustic evidence should you submit? First identify the requirement. Does the by-law specify a measurement, refer to an existing construction or require an acoustic assessment? Ask for unclear wording to be resolved before choosing the report you will rely on. Then provide evidence for the exact proposed system: board, backing or underlay, fixing method, substrate and known ceiling construction. Highlight differences between the tested construction and your building. Ask an acoustic consultant to assess those differences where necessary. Use [acoustic ratings explained](https://monkeyfloors.com/acoustic-ratings-explained) to distinguish laboratory and field measurements. A higher IIC number and a lower impact sound-pressure level describe different rating systems; they cannot simply be swapped in the application. ## What should a written approval resolve? Check that the approval identifies the floor system and areas, any required installation details, and the evidence or test needed at completion. Ask what happens if the installer proposes a substitution or discovers an unsuitable substrate. If a finished-floor test is required, agree the criterion and access arrangements before work. [The acoustic testing guide](https://monkeyfloors.com/guides/post-installation-acoustic-test) explains what to establish with the consultant. Keep the final specification, approval, photographs and report together. They give a future owner or manager a much clearer record than an email saying “flooring approved”. ## What if a flooring dispute develops? Begin with the issue, the relevant documents and the outcome you are seeking. Record specific noise observations or the disputed installation detail without assuming the cause. Ask the strata manager or council to explain the scheme’s process. Landgate’s owner guidance identifies the [State Administrative Tribunal as a route for many strata disputes](https://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/strata-and-community-titles/strata-titles/learn-about-strata/resources-for-strata-owners/). Check the relevant procedure before applying; the correct next step depends on the dispute. A measured result, an approval condition and a neighbour’s experience are different kinds of evidence, and each needs to be understood in context. ## Questions, answered ### Does WA have one acoustic rating for every flooring renovation? Do not rely on a universal rating. Identify the applicable scheme rules, approval conditions and any relevant building requirements for the actual work. ### Can I rely on a neighbour’s flooring approval? Use it as background only. Your proposed construction, location, conditions and current by-laws may differ. Obtain the decision required for your own work. ### Where do WA strata disputes go? Landgate directs many strata disputes to the State Administrative Tribunal. Try to resolve the issue within the scheme first and check the appropriate process for the particular dispute. ## Sources 1. [Resources for strata owners](https://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/strata-and-community-titles/strata-titles/learn-about-strata/resources-for-strata-owners/) · Landgate · Accessed 2026-09-27 2. [WA Strata Living Guide](https://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/siteassets/documents/strata-and-community-titles/strata-titles/strata-information-guides/wa-strata-living-guide_november_2023.pdf) · Landgate · Accessed 2026-09-27 3. [Strata Titles Act 1985 current legislation](https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/main_mrtitle_938_homepage.html) · Western Australian Legislation · Accessed 2026-09-27 ## Goes well with Strata rules ### [Strata flooring rules: a clear route to a considered floor](https://monkeyfloors.com/strata-flooring-rules) The NCC sets floor sound ratings for new buildings; your registered by-laws decide what you must do. Compare NSW, QLD and VIC rules and approval steps. 12 min read Apartments ### [Replacing apartment carpet with hard floors](https://monkeyfloors.com/guides/replacing-carpet-with-hard-floors) Plan an apartment carpet replacement around approvals, acoustic evidence, floor height and installation details before choosing your hard floor. 3 min read Ratings ### [Flooring acoustic ratings explained: read the whole result](https://monkeyfloors.com/acoustic-ratings-explained) Read flooring acoustic ratings with confidence: laboratory and field results, IIC, impact sound levels, AAAC stars and the evidence a by-law needs. 13 min read